Universal Music attracts the attention of US billionaire

Chris Willman Music WriterIn a nearly three-hour presentation Wednesday morning, Pershing Square Capital founder Bill Ackman made his love for the music business — and the reasons for setting his sights on Universal Music Group — clear, saying, “I can’t think of an asset I’m more confident in being consumed over time.

UPDATED: Alamo Records, the label imprint run by industry veteran Todd Moscowitz, is leaving its joint venture partnership at Universal Music Group for Sony Music Entertainment.SME today announced that it has acquired a majority stake in Alamo, which is home to such acts as Rod Wave, Blackbear and Lil Mosey. Moscowitz, a former top executive at Warner Bros.

The deal comes as Vivendi is still moving forward on plans for an IPO of the music label by late September. 20% of the label, whose signed artists include Rihanna and Lady Gaga, has already been sold to Chinese conglomerate Tencent, and the label has also been valued at $40 billion.

French media giant Vivendi has reached a deal to sell a 10% stake in Universal Music Group to hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square in a deal that values the music company at more than $42 billion.

Ellise Shafer administratorVivendi has reached a deal with Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square to sell a 10% stake in Universal Music Group, a transaction that values the world’s largest music company at $40 billion.Vivendi said Sunday that the agreement would be finalized no later than Sept. 15.

Playground Games’ Mike Brown, creative director of Forza Horizon 5, joined the Xbox Games Showcase Extended to talk about Forza Horizon 5’s Mexico.“We knew right from the start that we wanted it to be the largest horizon yet. It’s not far down the path from that that you realise you don’t want to go big if it’s going to be more of the same.”Brown starts the discussion by talking about how Mexico is the whole world in one country.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentUniversal Music France and Mediawan’s Method Animation (“The Little Prince,” “Miraculous”) are joining forces on “Jam,” a animated music anthology which will showcase the greatest talents in both music and animation.Co-developed with Universal Music France’s original contents department, the 15-part series will be directed by Michael Gracey, the revered helmer of “The Greatest Showman,” and is being created by Method Animation’s roster of talent,

Delilah Belle Hamlin and Eyal Booker wrap their arms around each other and share a passionate kiss in these new photos from their family beach vacation!

Ellise Shafer administratorLeading digital art brand Ikonick is teaming up with Bravado, Universal Music Group’s global merchandising and brand management company, to produce, market and distribute canvas art and NFTs across their extensive roster of artists.NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, have become all the rage in the music industry in recent months.

Chris Willman Music WriterAfter he initially announced plans to release his debut album independently, singer-songwriter Sam Williams has signed with Universal Music Group Nashville, the company is announcing today. The 24-year-old son of country icon Hank Williams Jr.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentMoroccan director Aziz Tazi’s thriller “Night Walk,” featuring a turn by Mickey Rourke, has scored a slew of international sales prior to its U.S.

Jon Burlingame With today’s release of Ludovico Einaudi’s “Cinema,” Universal Music Group confirms its status as one of the world’s most soundtrack-friendly music companies.Music by Einaudi, the Italian composer and pianist, was featured in recent Oscar winners “Nomadland” and”The Father.” “Cinema” collects 28 pieces featured in those films and such earlier projects as “The Water Diviner,” “The Intouchables” and the miniseries “Doctor Zhivago.”Each of the last seven Academy Award winners for

French media giant Vivendi has confirmed it is in talks to sell a 10% stake in Universal Music Group to hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Tontine Holdings in a deal that values the music company at €35 billion ($42B).

Bill Ackman is eyeing a 10% stake in Universal Music Group, to be purchased by his special-purpose acquisition company. Vivendi-owned UMG, the world’s biggest music company, is headed for an IPO later this year.The hedge fund billionaire announced nearly a year ago his interest in aligning with a corporation of such size for his SPAC known as Pershing Square Tontine Holdings.

Rebecca Davis editorWarner Music Group is expanding its mainland China hip-hop imprint JUUICE to the Greater China region of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, the firm said Thursday. Rapper Bohan Phoenix, one of the few bilingual, bicultural artists to find crossover success on both sides of the Pacific, has signed to the expanded imprint.Bohan Phoenix said he was “thrilled” to join JUUICE.

Taylor Swift has joined the cast of an upcoming film by David O.

Collider reported Tuesday.

John Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentFabula, the Chile-based film and TV production house of Pablo and Juan de Diós Larrain, is set to produce “Maquíllame Otra Vez,” the first feature film to go into production at Fabula Mexico, launched to complement Fabula’s Santiago de Chile H.Q.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorAfter a months-long standoff, Ryan Kavanaugh’s Triller short-form video platform and Universal Music Group announced worldwide licensing agreements that span recorded music and publishing.In February, UMG pulled its catalog from Triller, citing Triller’s failure to pay licensing fees for songs used on its service.With the new agreements, Triller’s users gain access to UMG’s full catalog of music from the company’s record labels and recording artists, as well as

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorVivendi, owner of the world’s largest music company, Universal Music Group, told investors on Tuesday that it is considering selling an additional 10% stake in the company to an unnamed U.S. investor.